Ajoy Kumar's "neighbouring country" remark sparks outrage; BJP calls it an insult to Sikkim

New Delhi [India], July 2 (ANI): The Sikkim unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday strongly opposed the "outrageous and ignorant" statement made by Indian National Congress (INC) leader Ajoy Kumar, in which he referred to Sikkim as a "neighbouring country" during a press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters.
In a post on social media X, the BJP Sikkim unit wrote, "The BJP Sikkim unit vehemently denounces the outrageous and ignorant statement made by INC leader Ajoy Kumar, who shockingly referred to Sikkim as a 'neighbouring country' during his press conference at AICC headquarters today."
The party further in their post wrote that it was "utterly deplorable" for a former IPS officer and Member of Parliament to display such an "appalling disregard" for India's history and geography.
The BJP condemned the remarks and, in its post, further wrote that Congress should "educate" its leaders to prevent such disgraceful blunders.
"It is utterly deplorable that a former IPS officer and Member of Parliament displays such appalling disregard for India's history and geography. The Congress party must immediately educate its leaders to prevent such disgraceful blunders. This shameful remark deserves the strongest possible condemnation," the post further read.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla also criticised Congress on the remarks made by Ajoy Kumar and stated that the party was following the "footsteps of Jinnah."
Poonawalla further stated that the Congress party wanted 'tukde tukde' of Bharat, stating that the remarks made by Kumar were an insult to the entire Northeast India.
"Congress is following the footsteps of Jinnah. It is a 'Jinnahwadi' party. Just like Jinnah wanted that there should be an Islamic state and division of India, the Congress party advocates for a Sharia Islamic state in some parts, and it wants the 'tukde tukde' of Bharat... Today, the statement made by Ajoy Kumar that Sikkim is not an integral part of India and is, in fact, a neighbouring nation, shows how he has insulted not just Sikkim but the entire northeast. Congress has always been against the Northeast," Poonawalla told ANI. (ANI)